This is brilliant, Mark, as was your last column. I so look forward to your next one. I did some theological work many years ago on identity (You Are Mine: Reflections on who we are, SPCK 2009), and found Lewis Hyde's book, The Gift, immensely helpful - so it's wonderful to see you making similar use of the economy of gift/grace in your reflections on self. I particularly love the focus on liturgy and worship. I have always found it hard to see the point of them, but you are really helping me with that!
Thank you Mark. Setting all this in the context of formation is helpful. I wonder what other word might be used though for ‘formation’ if expanding to a wider audience. ‘Formation’ seems to be understood by clergy and others involved in the C of E training world. But not more generally. I look forward to the next one in the series.
This is brilliant, Mark, as was your last column. I so look forward to your next one. I did some theological work many years ago on identity (You Are Mine: Reflections on who we are, SPCK 2009), and found Lewis Hyde's book, The Gift, immensely helpful - so it's wonderful to see you making similar use of the economy of gift/grace in your reflections on self. I particularly love the focus on liturgy and worship. I have always found it hard to see the point of them, but you are really helping me with that!
Thank you Mark. Setting all this in the context of formation is helpful. I wonder what other word might be used though for ‘formation’ if expanding to a wider audience. ‘Formation’ seems to be understood by clergy and others involved in the C of E training world. But not more generally. I look forward to the next one in the series.
Thanks, Jill. Essentially, formation is everything that makes us who we are over time -- experiences, relationships, conversations, etc., etc.